Category: Labor
Lessons in Starbucks rising
by Wade Rathke January 14, 2022 Marble Falls You have to keep these things in perspective of course. Winning union elections in two of Starbucks 9000 stores is not exactly an example of…
Progressive groups mark May Day with rallies urging passage of PRO Act
“The fight for the PRO Act is a fight for a future of dignity for all workers,” said Democratic Rep. Jamaal Bowman of New York. by Andrea Germanos, staff writer May 1, 2021 A coalition…
President Biden says, “Join the union!”
by Wade Rathke March 2, 2021 New Orleans John Lewis of the United Mineworkers Union and one of the founders of the Congress of Industrial Organizations, the CIO behind the hyphen in the AFL-CIO, famously…
A huge, huge deal’: Biden issues public statement of support for unionizing Alabama Amazon workers
“We haven’t had this aggressive and positive of a statement from a president of the United States on behalf of workers in decades.” by Jake Johnson, staff writer Monday, March 1, 2021 Declaring that all…
‘Landmark’ victory as UK Supreme Court rules Uber drivers are workers entitled to minimum wage, benefits
“This has been a grueling four-year legal battle for our members—but it’s ended in a historic win.” by Jake Johnson, staff writer Friday, February 19, 2021 The United Kingdom’s highest court delivered a major win for…
Biden boots ‘union busters and anti-government ideologues’ from key labor panel
Labor leaders called for replacements “with a background in labor-management relations who are not hostile toward unions.” by Jessica Corbett, staff writer Thursday, February 4, 2021 In another early win for organized labor, President Joe Biden…
Under pressure from workers, Biden fires anti-union labor board lawyer
“Today is a good day,” declared the SEIU, which had called on the president to immediately oust NLRB General Counsel Peter Robb. by Jessica Corbett, staff writer Thursday, January 21 Along with signing a slate of…
Google and majority unionism
by Wade Rathke January 4, 2021 New Orleans A well-orchestrated rollout welcomed workers back from the holidays with the news that around 225 people of the 260,000 employees of Google and its parent company, Alphabet, have…
Effects of CA Prop 22 begin as Albertsons stores move to replace unionized drivers with gig workers
“Albertsons was happy to reap public goodwill during the pandemic. But once Prop 22 gave the company the option of replacing workers with lower-paid contractors, they jumped at the opportunity.” by Kenny Stancil, staff writer Tuesday,…
New York City protects fast food workers
by Wade Rathke December 18, 2020 Atlanta The New York City Council passed two ordinances that could open the door to a new era of job protection for some of the most precarious workers in the…
Surprising UK election outcome – people want to organize
Fort Lauderdale The voters came out from under the rocks and jumped over the hedgerows to vote for the Conservatives behind weird and wacky Boris Johnson in the recent snap election in Britain. Labour took a…
The tragedy of the UAW: When boss culture replaces member culture
Ponce, Puerto Rico At the end of every year we are inundated with the best of this and the top ten of that in music, movies, books, sports, tech, politics, and, well, I guess, almost everywhere. …
Rathke: warehouse and distribution work, tough times at the choke points
New Orleans In the modern economy, warehouse, distribution, and logistical work has become critical for both big box stores, e-commerce, and transportation systems moving goods between all of these nodes and customers. Some 1.2 million…
Rathke: Google decides to “do evil” to its workers
New Orleans Remember back in the old days, which might have only been a few years ago, but certainly seems so twentieth century now, when it seemed OK that Google was the go-to search engine…
Rathke: When political parties lose control, welcome to crisis
New Orleans Big ideas and popular demands move political parties, pro or con. Politicians have to put their fingers in the air and see how the wind is blowing, especially if they lack core principles and…
Rathke: National Labor Relations Board twists the knife in the heart of unions and workers
New Orleans It may be hard to remember, but the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) is supposed to ensure the right of workers to organize and safeguard the stated public policy expounded in the National…
Rathke: The predatory fight to keep workers temporary and “independent”
Little Rock Once upon a time we might have been able to look at the Department of Labor to lead the way in drawing the bright lines that establish whether a worker is an employee or…
Inside the lives of immigrant teens working dangerous night shifts in suburban factories
During the day, immigrant teenagers attend high school. At night, they work in factories to pay debts to smugglers and send money to family. The authorities aren’t surprised by child labor. They’re also not doing much…
Longtime Union members Pocan and Norcross announce Labor Caucus to advocate for workers in Congress
“President-elect Joe Biden’s new administration gives the Democratic Party the opportunity to reprioritize working families at the center of our legislative agenda.” by Jessica Corbett, staff writer Friday, November 13 Amid a flurry of new campaigns…
Unions prepare for general strike if Trump subverts election results
“Paired with people in the streets, a strike could help stop a GOP coup.” by Julia Conley, staff writer Sunday, November 1, 2020 Dozens of labor unions have resolved to consider a general strike after Nov….
Most home health aides ‘Can’t afford not to work’ — Even when lacking PPE
Home health aides flattened the curve by keeping the most vulnerable patients — seniors, the disabled, the infirm — out of hospitals. But they’ve done it mostly at poverty wages and without overtime pay, hazard pay,…
Farmers and meatpackers are teaming up
During the pandemic and recession, farmers are realizing they have more in common with immigrant meatpackers than agribusiness CEOs. by Sarah Anderson Wednesday, October 14, 2020 For family farmers like Hans Breitenmoser, the odds of catching…
Disney fires 28,000 workers during stock buyback spree
“It appears that—prior to, and during the pandemic—Disney took good care of its top executives and shareholders—and now is hanging its front-line workers out to dry.” by Andrea Germanos, staff writer Wednesday, October 14 Sen. Elizabeth…
Firing workers for off-the-job protests
by Wade Rathke September 17, 2020 New Orleans A small notice in an email caught my eye. A National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) attorney in a newly released guidance letter wanted to make sure that…
